Regional Passport Office here has changed the release schedule of appointments for passport services, providing greater time period for citizens to apply, with effect from September 17.

Every day 2,575 appointments are currently released by RPO Bangalore at 8 am on the website www.passportindia.gov.in.

From Saturday, RPO Bangalore would release the appointments one-and-half days ahead of the scheduled appointment date to increase the appointment window availability and providing greater time period for citizens to apply for passport services, Regional Passport Officer Dr K J Srinivasa told reporters here.

For example,appointments to provide passport services on Sept 19 would now be released from 6 PM on Sep 17 and would be continuously available till 23:59 hours on Sept 18 or till the appointments are fully exhausted,whichever is earlier earlier.

The appointments are spread through the four Passport Seva Kendras (PSK)-- on Lalbagh Road and Marathahalli in Bangalore and in Hubli and Mangalore. Applicants can obtain appointments from Saturday to Thursday to get appointments for Monday to Friday.

Srinivasa said more and more applicants seem to profer the Lalbagh Road PSK and hence the appointments (over 1,100 per day) get exhausted within three-four hours after release of appointments, while Marathahalli PSK has over 750 appointments per day, which are available till evening everyday.

"Hence applicants are urged to explore appointment availability at Marathahalli centre for availing of passport services", he added.